Rheology and pipeline transportation of final molasses

Yee-Kwong Leong, K.A. Maguire, M. Ridd

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The rheology of final molasses at temperature (T) ranging from 20 to 70degreesC was characterised with a cone and plate viscometer. The shear-thinning power law model described its flow behaviour very well. In the Arrhenius plot of log viscosity at given shear rate versus 1/T, two linear regions were apparently displayed. It showed that the viscosity is relatively more sensitive to temperature between 20 and 50degreesC. The rheological data were used to calculate pumping energy consumption, P (kW-h/t-km), an important cost parameter in the feasibility study of long distance pipeline transportation. As the molasses viscosity is inherently high at the ambient temperature of about 30degreesC, its transportation in pipeline will be in the laminar regime for an average throughput of 50 t/h using the normal pipe size range of between 5 and 24 in. For transport in the turbulent flow regime, the temperature, throughput and pipe diameter must all be high. Normally the P decreases with increasing diameter and temperature, and with decreasing throughput.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)59-63
JournalINTERNATIONAL SUGAR JOURNAL
Volume104
Issue number1238
Publication statusPublished - 2002

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Rheology and pipeline transportation of final molasses'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this